The Redbirds (40+) stormed past She Gone in a dominant 9-3 victory Wednesday night at The Parks at Texas Star — a game that ended abruptly due to a skirmish that cleared both dugouts and prompted officials to call it early. While tensions flared late, the Redbirds had already done their damage with a complete offensive and pitching performance.
It was Brent Smerczynski who broke the game open in the bottom of the second, crushing a two-run triple to right-center that brought the home fans to their feet. The Redbirds added two more in the inning on a fielding error and an RBI single from Juan Mollinedo to take a commanding 4-0 lead.
Dustin Harrison tacked on another run in the third with a groundout that made it 5-1, and the Redbirds continued to apply pressure in the fourth and fifth innings. Chris Cec, Lester Bedford, and Mollinedo each contributed RBIs as the Redbirds extended their lead to 9-3 before the game was halted.
Troy Key was outstanding on the mound, going the full five innings before the stoppage. He scattered eight hits and struck out six, allowing just two earned runs without issuing a single walk. Key efficiently handled a dangerous She Gone lineup and earned the win with a pitch count of just 76 over 23 batters faced.
Smerczynski earns Player of the Game honors after driving in three runs, including the game-breaking triple in the second. From the nine-spot in the order, his spark at the plate and hustle in the outfield helped set the tone for a Redbirds squad firing on all cylinders.
Mark Tierney also had a perfect day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while the Redbirds as a team collected nine hits and showed patience with four walks and four hit-by-pitches.
She Gone saw solid offensive efforts from Jason Garza, who went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, and Lorenzo McEwen, who drove in a run with a double. But the visitors couldn’t overcome the Redbirds’ early surge or Key’s steady performance on the hill.
The game ended prematurely after tempers flared following a play at second base, with both benches spilling onto the field. Officials made the call to end it there, awarding the Redbirds the win.
The Redbirds (40+) improve their record and will look to keep the momentum going next Wednesday when they take on the Brewers back at The Parks.
